Sick Puppies stick around

[Dani071890]

by Adrienne Shellenberger
Weekender Intern

Sick puppies usually aren’t something that people enjoy or pay money to see. Luckily, it’s a different story for the band Sick Puppies.

Made up of Shimon Moore on guitar and vocals, Emma Anzai on bass and Mark Goodwin on drums, Sick Puppies will perform April 5 at Eleanor Rigby’s in Jermyn.

Years ago, founding members Anzai and Moore had a list of band names. Sick Puppies was one of many choices. Moore visited his father who suggested the name Sick Puppies.

“They each had independently thought of it,” said Anzai. “We took that as a sign.”

She explained they always meant to change the name because it seemed “kiddie,” but “we still have it today.”

Anzai and Moore are from Australia, where they started the band. They had made an album there and had management. They’ve known each other since high school and eventually felt the next move in their career was to come to the United States. Their original drummer left the band, and the two of them maxed out their credits cards, took out loans and moved to California.

“It was nerve-racking relocating,” she said.

Moore visits Australia during every break the band gets. Anzai admits that she doesn’t go back, but they once toured there with Nickelback.

Once they got settled in America, they began setting up meetings from a list of contacts they were given. They also held auditions and put up ads for a new drummer almost everywhere, including on Craigslist. Goodwin, from California, became the newest member of Sick Puppies.

Once in the U.S., it took about a year for Sick Puppies to sign with an independent record label and then another year to sign with a major label. The band is now on Virgin Records.

“It took a lot of showcasing to get attention,” she said. “It’s not easy.”

The band wrote new songs using old ideas, but overall it was a new start, said Anzai. All three members collaborate when writing songs.

Last summer, the band released its second major-label album, “Tri-Polar.” Anzai explained the album is full of aggressive songs. Their inspiration was mainly from personal experiences. The band was frustrated and angry, and “it came out that way,” she said.

“Tri-Polar” is similar to Sick Puppies’ first album and had the same producers. However, it came with the band having a little more experience. “We got a feel for what works and what people like,” said Anzai.

Sick Puppies will be on tour with Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown this spring. Although they tour all over, they do have a certain region they like best. “We like the East Coast,” said Anzai.

She also said she her favorite thing to do on tour is see movies. “It seems simple, but it’s hard to get time to yourself.”

While on its very first tour, the band was filmed for the documentary called “Rock Prophecies.” The film is about rock photographer Robert M. Knight. Anzai said they were usually filmed periodically for about three days at a time. They would forget the cameras were even there, and they’d just act like themselves.

“I’m stoked with how it came out,” she said.

Sick Puppies have had their song “You’re Going Down” used as a theme song for WWE broadcasts and “Street Fighter War” was used in a marketing campaign for the video game “Street Fighter IV.”

The band has its own street team, which was started by a fan in the U.S.

“We have great fans that help out with mailing lists and stuff,” said Anzai. She said they were lucky to come across such fans. “We are very aware that fans are important,” she said. “Without fans, there wouldn’t be any shows.”

[Gabby]

[angelbear425]

Excellent article! Much better than the last time they played in the area and I got them to write.

[Dani071890]

Thanks! Even thou I might not go to the show I'd just thought I'd share

[Juliesnaps]

thanx for sharing

[angelbear425]

[Cassie]

[Lyzz]

Yeah, it's very cool they wrote something...it just shocks me that it wasn't better written or at least edited. I'm a former communications major so that might just be me.

I'll try to find out when I work on Saturday if OurAfter is the only opener. It'd definitely be cool not to have to sit through too many bands since it says 'with local support' on the ER website...I can think of exactly one other local band that I like and I know they're playing there on Friday (I'll be at the Philly show so I can't see them but worth it for SP!) and I'd have definitely heard about it if they were opening for SP.

PS: If anyone's gonna be in the area on Friday, go see A Fire With Friends. They're awesometastic.

[Dani071890]

[Lyzz]

[Dani071890]

[Cassie]

[David]

That was a good article, I agree it could have been written a little better, but any exposure is good exposure. I loved the shout out to the "street team" we know are the WC and Ambassadors.....LOVED the shoutout to Susanna!!!!